Southampton Oval (PHC won toss): Southampton beat PHC by 150 runs

Oyinde Bascome and Dion Stovell took advantage of loose bowling as Southampton Rangers marched into the First Division KO Cup final at the expense of a depleted PHC side on Sunday.

The match was reduced to 20 overs per side after rain meant that no play was possible before 3.30pm.

With only nine available players, PHC’s flawed decision to field after winning the toss put them on the back foot immediately, as instead of exploiting whatever assistance there might have been from a wicket that had been under covers for most of the day, their bowlers sprayed it to all parts — which played right into the hands of the Rangers batters, Oyinde Bascome in particular.

The winning St George’s Colts Cup Match captain flicked a beautiful shot over cow corner in the second over to get the exhibition of sixes started.

Batting in partnership with older brother Oronde, Oyinde welcomed Sage Carter into the bowling attack by taking 12 runs from his first over — including his second six — as the six-over powerplay went for exactly ten runs an over.

The partnership ended on 63, when Oronde (18) picked out Keishon Wilson at mid-wicket, but by then the die had been cast.

The Rangers innings suffered the slightest of hiccups with the dismissal of Nacori Smith for three, but captain Dalin Richardson sustained momentum with a quickfire 32 that was punctuated by a glorious pull over the square-leg boundary off Quinaceo Hunt.

Oyinde Bascome, meanwhile, had raced to 77 from 35 balls, which included seven sixes and five fours, and seemed destined for a maiden century at senior level before he was out leg-before to Carter.

PHC’s sloppy out-cricket extended to the fielding effort, where Ori Wilson was the chief culprit with four dropped catches.

Stovell needed no further invitation, as he smashed the bowling to all parts in a destructive, unbeaten knock of 90 from a mere 41 balls.

Not normally one to be associated with the long handle, the 40-year-old cleared the ropes eight times to go with four boundaries as Rangers closed on 235 for four.

Any hope that PHC had of pulling off the unthinkable vanquished in the second over of their response, when captain Charles Trott was caught at mid-wicket by Oyinde Bascome off Stovell for one.

From there, it was a procession for Rangers, with wickets at both ends until Marques Waldron showed he had stomach for the fight.

The No 6 bat stroked 43 from 35 balls, with three sixes and five fours, before he was trapped in front by Oyinde Bascome.

With Waldron’s departure at 77 for six, the end was nigh — Bascome and Isaiah Taylor claiming the final two wickets.

Swayne Campbell was the most successful Rangers bowler with three for 15, while Stovell claimed two for seven and Bascome two for 19.

Rangers’ opponents in the final will be Devonshire Rec, who won without bowling a ball when Willow Cuts failed to show for their match at Devonshire Recreation Club.